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'Holiday Crackdown' results in 76 arrests in Dutchess County

Not all states allow police officers to set up DUI checkpoints to try to catch drunk drivers, but New York does. In most cases, checkpoints are set up at certain times of year when there are usually more intoxicated drivers on the road.

Recently in Dutchess County, multiple law enforcement agencies joined efforts, including sobriety checkpoints, to arrest 76 people over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Of those arrested during the "Holiday Crackdown," 58 were accused of drunk driving.

For most people who are arrested for drunk driving, it is the first time they have been in trouble with the police. Depending on the circumstances, a conviction could result in jail time, a heavy fine, driver's license suspension and collateral problems such as difficulty taking care of daily tasks like getting to work and running errands.

Understand that the stakes are high, but if you find yourself facing a DWI charge, then don't assume that your only option is to plead guilty. Police officers and prosecutors are human, and they make mistakes. An experienced DUI defense attorney can investigate your case, inform you of your defense options, and fight to minimize the negative consequences.

In some cases, it is possible to have the charge thrown out or dismissed because of faulty evidence or other errors on the part of law enforcement.

Depending on your situation, it may also be possible to save your driver's license by seeking a hardship privilege or a conditional license. These things do not happen automatically, though, and anyone accused of DUI is encouraged to seek legal help as soon as possible.

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